Feeding apparatus.



RSXROAT.

Patnted 0m. 5, 1915.

81mm G P. R E x ROHIT GI Pl FEEDING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, I915.

s new @FFlLCE.

GEORGE PORTER REXBOAT, OFROODHOUSE, ILLI ENOIS, ASSIG'NOR 0F ONE-FOURTH T0 CHARLES '1. BQ TES, 0F ROODHOUSE, ILLINOIS.

FEEDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 5. 1915.

Application filed July 17, 1915. Serial No. 40,451.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE P. RnxRoA'r,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Roodhouse, in the county of Greene and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in feeding apparatus and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed to convey fuel from a source of supply andto properly deliver the same upon a fire bed; and it is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus of this general character having novel and improved means whereby it may. be adjusted into or out of operative position With convenience and facility and whereby it may be conveniently operatedin a manner to assure proper distribution of the fuel within the fire box.

' The-invention consists in the de ails of construction and in- .the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved feeding apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advan tageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

' The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, .1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereinsubstantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

As disclosed in the accompanying draw} ings, F denotes a fire box of any ordinary or preferred construction and being provided in one'of its walls with the fire door D. While the fire box F is herein disclosed in a somewhat diagrammatic manner, I Wish to state that my invention as herein embodied is particularly adapted for use in con-- nection with locomotives, although my invention is capable of use With equal facility in'connection with fire boxes of general application.

l denotes a table or platform operatively supported by the surface S through the medium of the legs 2 and resting upon the table or platform 1 is the casing 3 substantially circular in top plan and having positioned therein the rotor, herein disclosed as comprising a plurality of blades t radiating from the vertically disposed shaft 5 extending through the casing 3 at substantially its axial center and rotatably supported in any conventional manner by the structure comprised in the table or platform 1 and the supporting legs 2-. The shaft 5- is operativ'ely engaged, as at 6, with a driving shaft 7 of the engine or motor E which may be as desired, but herein disclosed as'a steam operated type.

Extending'from a side wall of the casing 3 to one side 'of its center is a discharge spout 8 of predetermined dimensions and having its free-end portion circular in cross section and telescopically engaged by the delivery sleeve 9 which is capable of move ment longitudinally of the spout 8 and axially thereof,said delivery. sleeve or member being adapted for insertion within the fire box F through the door D thereof and also capable of-suflicient movement-away from the door D to permit the same being closed in the regular way.

' 10-will' be correspondingly rocked so that as the member 9 is extended within the fire box the coal discharged therefrom will be directed downwardly.

28 denotes a rock shaft disposed transversely of the spout 8 and positioned therebelow, said shaft being operatively sup- 3 of the lever 32 the desired axial rotation I ported by the bearings 29 and one extremity of said shaft is provided with a rockarm 30 operatively engaged with the inner extremity of the sleeve or member 9 through the medium of the link 31 whereby it will be perceived thatupon proper rotation of. the shaft 28 longitudinal movement may be readily and conveniently imparted .to the sleeve or member 9. The opposite extremity of the rock shaft 28 has pivotallyengaged therewith the lever 32 movable in a direction longitudinally of the shaft 28 and-pro vided with the latch mechanism coacting with the rack 3+ carried by said shaft 28 and said lever 32 is opcratively engaged with the sleeve or member 9 through the medium of the rod whereby it will be.

perceived that upon proper manipulation may be given to the sleeve or member 9 and that the cr action between the latch mechanism 33 and the rack 34 serves to maintain said sleeve or member 9 in its various axial adjustments. It will also be perceived that the lever 39' affords a convenient means whereby the requisite axial rotation may be given to the rock shaft 28.

In communication with the casing ft through the top thereof and atthe side of the axial center of the casing with which the spout S communicates is the chute 17 into which is discharged the fuel carried by the conveyer 18 leading from a suitable source of fuel supply. said conveyer being hereindi'sclosed as positioned within a. suitable cas ing 19. As the fuel is delivered by the conveyer 18 within. the casing 3 through the hopper 17, the blades 4 serve to throw the fuel through the spout 8 and the delivery member or sleeve 9 within the fire box F and the longitudinal and axial adjustment ofthe sleeve or member 9 together with the pivotal adjustment of the deflector member 10 serves to determine theportion of the fire bed to which the fuel is delivered. As herein disclosed, the upper shaft 20 around which the conveyer 18 passes is operatively' connected, as at 21, with the driving shaft 7 of the engine or motor E whereby it will be perceived that said conveyor will be caused to operate in unison with the rotor or blades 4. It is also a; be observed that the blades 4! are slotted, as at 22, or otherwise perforated in order to reduce to a minimum the blast ofair forced through the chute 8 and the sleeve. or member 9 so that the air admitted within the fire chamber during the feeding of the fuel will be substantially the same as would otherwise enter through the'fire door D alone.

As herein disclosed, the operative connection 21 is a conventloual sprocket chain passing around the sprockets 23 and 24 secured, respectively, to the drive shaft 7 of the engine or motor E and the shaft 20 of ratus constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely'simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention'is susceptible of somechange and modification without material departure from the princlples and s irit thereof and for this reason I do not ads to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my.

invention in practice.

I claim: r r

1. A feeding apparatus comprising'a casing having a feed opening and provided with a discharge spout, a delivery member telescopically engaged with the discharge spout and capable of longitudinal movement.

and axial rotation, a rotor mounted within the casing, ineans'for driving the rotor, a deflector member pivotally engaged with the outer extremity of the delivery member and capable of rocking movement relative'to the discharge end of the delivery member,

a stationary support, and arod operatively engaged with the deflector and the stationary support whereby said deflector is automatically caused to move relative to the discharge end of the delivery member upon endwise movement of the delivery member. 2. A feeding apparatus comprising a casing provided with adischargespout, a delivery member telescopically engaged with the discharge spout and capable. of longir tudinal movement and axial rotation, ashaft' supported below thefdelivery member and disposed transversely thereof, a rock arm carried by the shaft, a link operatively connecting the rock arm and the'delivery mem= ber, a lever pivotallyengaged with' the shaft and movable in a direction longitudinally thereof, coacting locking means carried by'v the lever 'andthe shaft,'and.a rod opera-' tively connecting the lever. and the delivery member whereby axialrotation may-be imparted to the delivery member.

3. A feeding apparatus comprisinga casl ing having a discharge spout,,a delivery member telescopically engaged with the dis a charge spout and capable 'of longitudinal 5,,

movement, a stationary support, a deflector member pivotally engaged with the outer member upon longitudinal movement of the end of the delivery member and adapted to delivery member. 10 overlie the discharge end thereof, said de- In fiestimony whereei? I hereunto affix my fiector member being provided with an eX- signature in the presence of izwo witnesses.

. tension, and a rod. operatively engaged with GEORGE PORTER. EXROAT.

said extension and the stationary support Witnesses; whereby the deflector member is moved rela- W. A. THOMPSON, tive to the discharge end of the delivery C. Wu, 

